Musings from a FIRST Inspector for 2009

[David Brinza]

Addressing lukevanoort's concern: this year's robot inspectors are certified: they must pass an on-line test to become an official inspector. You should not encounter any "clueless" inspectors this year.

A big incentive for getting through inspection early on Thursday is the "fast lane" for practice matches. Robots that have completed inspection (i.e. passed and have the signed inspection sticker on the robot) may be allowed to fill in for no-show robots in practice matches. Robots that have not passed full inspection can participate in their scheduled practice matches after completing a brief safety inspection.

[Ian Curtis]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

Addressing lukevanoort's concern: this year's robot inspectors are certified: they must pass an on-line test to become an official inspector. You should not encounter any "clueless" inspectors this year.

A big incentive for getting through inspection early on Thursday is the "fast lane" for practice matches. Robots that have completed inspection (i.e. passed and have the signed inspection sticker on the robot) may be allowed to fill in for no-show robots in practice matches. Robots that have not passed full inspection can participate in their scheduled practice matches after completing a brief safety inspection.

How long have inspector's been certified? (i.e. in which year did this practice start?) Is it a new thing?

[David Brinza]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

How long have inspector's been certified? (i.e. in which year did this practice start?) Is it a new thing?

This may have been in place for lead inspector's for some time (Al?). This year I was sent an e-mail notification from the FIRST Volunteer Resources Coordinator that I needed to complete a certification test. I assure you that robot inspectors will need to be quite familiar with Section 8 of the Game Manual to get a passing score.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

Originally Posted by David Brinza

This may have been in place for lead inspector's for some time (Al?).

I am tested (testy?) all the time. First is trying hard to insure that all inspections are uniform across the world. Russ Beavis has been devoting most (or all) of his time to keeping us up to date and being the go between with First. First is putting a lot of energy into this endeavor to help make your season better. Our big test is next weekend. Wish us luck.

[Uberbots]

Originally Posted by iCurtis

How long have inspector's been certified? (i.e. in which year did this practice start?) Is it a new thing?

iirc there was such a test last year, but it might have been only for the refs.

[Russ Beavis]

We started using an inspector quiz in 2007 but it hasn't been enforced until this year. Referee cert started being enforced last year (if memory serves).

For anyone taking the inspector quiz - don't fret. It's an "open book exam" and you've got 2 minutes per question with 15 questions. The primary goal is to ensure that you've read Section 8. If you've done a pre-read and are familiar with the organization of Section 8, you should be able to easily pass.

Russ

[Carol]

Originally Posted by Russ Beavis

We started using an inspector quiz in 2007 but it hasn't been enforced until this year. Referee cert started being enforced last year (if memory serves).

For anyone taking the inspector quiz - don't fret. It's an "open book exam" and you've got 2 minutes per question with 15 questions. The primary goal is to ensure that you've read Section 8. If you've done a pre-read and are familiar with the organization of Section 8, you should be able to easily pass.

Russ

You guys have it easy - the referee cert is 20 questions with 1.5 minutes per question!

[A Bear]

I cant wait to see how it will turn out this year with the new inspecters

[Russ Beavis]

The duct tape question has already tripped up a few inspectors. Very interesting...

I don't want to give away the ending for those who have not yet taken the test (although a quick search on the FIRST Q&A will provide the answer).

Russ

[David Brinza]

I'm really certifiable, since I earned a completely different cert in Manchester a couple of weeks ago. I got my inspector's certification completed earlier this week.

I'll be inspecting in San Diego, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

[lukevanoort]

Originally Posted by Russ Beavis

The duct tape question has already tripped up a few inspectors. Very interesting...

I don't want to give away the ending for those who have not yet taken the test (although a quick search on the FIRST Q&A will provide the answer).

Russ

That really worries me. It may be only one rule, and, hopefully, a relatively inconsequential one, but it implies that potential inspectors are not actually reading the manual (not carefully anyway), and just going off of past experience.

[EricVanWyk]

Originally Posted by lukevanoort

That really worries me. It may be only one rule, and, hopefully, a relatively inconsequential one, but it implies that potential inspectors are not actually reading the manual (not carefully anyway), and just going off of past experience.

It is worrisome, but put yourself in their shoes. They have a document that only lists the rules for this year. They don't have a document that lists the rules that aren't for this year. It is easier to add knowledge - a single line of text can do that. It is harder to subtract - you have to read the entire thing and not find it, you can not simply point to a specific line.

Fortunately, we have quizzes to help subtract.

[Justin Stiltner]

A point to consider is that many of your inspectors have been involved in first far longer than you have, and the rules over the years have changed, however from year to year the changes are usually very small, and some have been long standing rules, such as the tape rule that has been in the manual since 2000 (when I started) and it was taken to be a given. Usually it is these rules that stand out, the changed rules that we must really study, and as said before, subtract from our mental list. Think of it this way, the speed limit near your home has probably been the same your whole life, if it were to change and you saw the sign about the change you would obey it, however if you 2 days later were just running down the street to a friends house it would be second nature for you to go the old speed limit, until you trained yourself not to. Think of the problem you sometimes have in math when you are subtracting a negative number and end up actually subtracting, and not adding, its a small mistake that is very common.

P.S. if you have something mounted or secured with duct tape, don't you think you could have done done it a little "better" ?

[Racer26]

To answer your P.S. justin, that entirely depends on what the object being secured is, the method of taping, and even the type of tape used. Some objects could be better or more easily secured with duct tape than another method due to odd shapes requiring heavy adaptive mounting rigs or what have you, where duct tape might be acceptably secure, and substantially lighter.

[Al Skierkiewicz]

In previous years, tape was excluded from use as a fastener and Inspectors and significant others were under the belief that Duct Tape in particular was not to appear on robots. Dave Lavery pointed out last year, that no rule existed that prevented the use of duct tape, it was a myth. That being said, the appropriate use of any fastener is a concern for inspectors. Choose wisely!